AN UNPOPULAR MINISTRY 509
make the Government extremely unpopular. By 1820 they
were about the best-hated set of men that ever ruled Britain.
All the credit they had won in guiding the country to victory
in the war had long since evaporated. The " Battle of Peter-
loo " made a great impression on the minds of people who had
hitherto supported the Government; men felt that if the Tories
could not keep order without the sabring of women and children,
it was time they gave way to ministers who could.
Their prestige sank still lower when they tried to please
George IV (who had succeeded to the throne on the death of
his poor blind, mad old father in 1820) over what was known
as The Queen's Affair. The new King liked to consider himself
" the first gentleman of Europe," but he was really a selfish and
sensual old fop, for whom nobody could feel any affection or
respect. He had long since separated from his wife, whom he
had cruelly wronged; and he now demanded that a Bill of
Pains and Penalties should be passed to prevent her from taking
any part in public life as Queen. The great bulk of the nation
sided with her in the unseemly wrangle that ensued—so strong
was the feeling on the subject that Lord Liverpool had to with-
draw the measure. The painful situation was brought to an end
a few weeks later by the death of the unfortunate lady.
The only actual sign of danger to the Government was the
Cato Street Conspiracy (1820)—a wild plot to murder all the
ministers when gathered at a dinner-party, to seize the Tower
and the Bank and the Government Offices, and set up a republic.
The conspirators' plans were known to the police, they were
arrested while making their final preparations, and four of them
were hanged. Nevertheless, it was evident that the nation was
sick and tired of reactionary Toryism, and had lost respect even
for the monarchy. It seemed that the Ministry must collapse—
perhaps that the dreaded revolution was at hand. But there
were in the Tory party a number of men who had some under-
standing of the evils of the day and of how they might be
remedied; and circumstances now gave this group the ascend-
ancy in Lord Liverpool's Cabinet.